Beautiful Underground Stations

Since December 2010 Munich has 100 underground stations. Some of those hundred stations under the city are real artworks and definitely worth a visit.

If you have bad weather, why not buy a day ticket and discover the world under the ground?

We have visited the 15 most interesting stations and have put together the information for you.

Moosach (U3) since December 2010

Artist: Martin Fengel

Number 100 of Munich`s underground stations awakes Spring Feelings! With the nearly 8 meter high plant and animal motives, the artist wanted to display the meeting point of city and land life. He used motives of the nature of Moosach and the surrounding area and enlarged them macroscopical.

The station is one of the most charming in Munich!

Moosacher St. Martins-Platz (U3) since October 10

Artist: Masayuki Akiyoshi

The characteristic of this station is the mosaic of 76.200 pictures (11 x 15 cm), which are decorating the 120 meter long and the 5 meter high walls. All photos were taken in the surrounding areas of Moosach and display the nature, architecture and infrastructure of this area. The pictures are displayed in a chronologic order and therefore showing the colorful sequence of the seasons.The mosaic with the title "Frost" is framed with corrugated iron that has been fixed at the ceiling.

The whole station has no columns at all, a lot of daylight and together with the additional 50 big lamps that were installed at the ceiling it gives a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Viewing all the diverse pictures of the mosaic you will surely not be bored while waiting for the train to come.

Georg - Brauchle Ring (U1) since October 03

Artist: Franz Ackermann, Architect: Burkhard Schäffer

This underground station was named after "Georg Brauchle" who was once the second mayor of Munich.

The motto of the station is "The big journey" which is illustrated with photos of places all over the world, but also of the surrounding areas of the station. Between the colorful rectangular wall areas you can find pictures from Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Istanbul and even from the temples of Ankor Wat in Cambodia. The hall is without any columns, very bright and clear. In the year 2005 Ackermann received a price for the design of this station.

Westfriedhof (U1) since May 98

Architecture office: Auer+Weber, Lightdesign from Ingo Maurer

The lightening concept of this station is unique and creates a very special atmosphere.

11 big lamps with a diameter of 3,8 meters are glowing in red, blue and yellow. There is no daylight at all at this underground station and due to the dimed light you get the feeling to be in a cave.

Candidplatz (U1) since November 97

Architecture office: Egon Konrad

This underground station was named after the painter and sculptor Pieter de Witte who`s pseudonym was Pietro Candid.

Pietro Candid produced in the 16th century a few pieces of art and altarpieces for the residence and for some churches in Munich.

The station is fixed with a few supporting columns in order to withstandthesoil andtrafficpressureof theoverlyingbuildings as the station isin acurveandiscrossedbythecandidbridge.

The walls, columns and the ceiling of the station are in purple, red, yellow, green and dark blue colors in the same structure like a rainbow.

Dülferstrasse (U2) since November 93

Architects: Peter Lanz und Jürgen Rauch, Mural: Ricarda Dietz

The underground station Dülferstrasse and the same named street were given their name in memory of the famous mountain climber Hans Dülfer.

The lower area of the station`s walls are decorated with colorful glass plates in the colors of the rainbow. Those plates are of different sizes.

From this station you can directly enter the shopping mall "Mira" which is also worth a visit, not only because of the shops, but because of its characteristic facade.

Königsplatz (U2) since Oktober 1980

Design: Professor Josef Wiedemann and Johannes Segieth

The „Königsplatz" (Royal Plaza) is the connecting point of Munic`s art scene. In the area around Königsplatz you can find some of the most important museums, such as the three "Pinakotheken", the "Gyptothek", the State Collection of Antiques and the "Lenbachhaus".

The station was designed by Professor Josef Wiedemann together with Johannes Segieth. Up to 4 meter high, true to the original reproductions of global art are showing pieces of the museums that you can find in the surrounding area. Furthermore there are small glass cases within the columns, which are displaying small exhibits.

Even the floor has its own characteristic, because in within the Azul-Granit Plates you can admire white mosaic artworks.

Münchner Freiheit (U3, U6) since October 1971 and newly renovated since January 2010

Design: Paolo Nestler Light design: Ingo Maurer

The station „Münchner Freiheit" (translated it would be "Munich`s Freedom") is in the opinion of some people the "Highlight below the city", others think that the blue and yellow color combination is a bit too daring.

Paolo Nestler planned this station together with the municipal underground department and 1971 the station was in operation for the first time.

Since 2010 it has been completely renovated and redesigned, however the existent architecture has not been changed. The platform area however, such as the pavement, furniture, panelling as well as the lightening and coloring concept was completely renewed.

Ingo Maurer has converted this busy junction of the public transport in a fresh, contemporary and modern station.

Ihopethatpeoplecan beeffected by thepower andthefreshnessof this station and experiencetheuse as amoment,perhapsunconsciously,theliftstheirSpirit'andtheir mood." Ingo Maurer March 2010

Theresienwiese (U4,U5) since March 1984

Architect: Alexander Freiherr von Branca

The name of this station says it all: Here is the place where every autumn the biggest beer festival of the world takes place - the Octoberfest!

In the middle of the station you can see a supervision pulpit from where the crowd, that is passing through this station during Octoberfest, can be controlled.

The whole station is in designed in the colors of Munich „black" and „yellow" which are in perfect combination with the wall paintings of Ricarda Dietz.

Garching (U6) since October 2006

Department for Undergroung Construction of the local building board MunichAbteilung

The station is approximately 17 meters below the ground and is located in the middle of Garching, the neighboring city of Munich.

The first thing you notice when you go to this station is the design of the station name. The "A " in the word "Garching" is designed like the egg-shaped cupola of the first research reactor, the so-called "Atomei.

Also unusual for the Munich U-Bahn stations, is the fact that the ticket machines are located directly on the platform.

The walls are decorated in the colors of Garching. White, red and green paintings of artists from Garching, are attached to the walls. Exhibition showcases are showing changing exhibits of Garching associations and institutions and can be admired on the platform.Mirrors and painted panels as well as lots of light make this platform to an enjoyable place to wait.

Garching - Forschungszentrum (U6) since October 2006

By Paul Kramer

As the namealready reveals, thestationtakes youtoMunich'sresearchinstitutes, such as theTechnicalUniversityandtheMax-Planck-Gesellschaft.This can be already seenin the designof the station as the walls are decorated with 26largeboards that are displaying themesofwell knownresearchersandinventorswhich have had a relevance toMunich.

The architecture of the station is unique, because a glass copula has been built above the platform.

Rough and untreated piles are forming the walls of the station. The ceiling is equipped with reflective aluminum panels which create a spacious room effect. Both outside and inside, this station is special.

Marienplatz is thebusiestsubwaystationin Munich,becausefrom here one canreach allimportantsightsof theold town. It wasdesigned byAlexander vonBrancaandin 1971 it was in operation for the first time.

After the decision for the construction of the Allianz Arena, the station was enlarged with additional pedestrian tunnels in the period from spring 2003 until summer 2006 in order to ease the passenger flow. The expandation cost was around 46million€.

The station is located in the suburban area of Munich and in order to illustrate that, the walls were painted with images of the scenery of the Alpine foothills of Munich. The ceiling is designed in accordance with the paintings in green and blue.

Unusual are the two, 9-meter-high glass pyramids at the entrance of the station. The original plan was to build the pyramids twice the size, following the example of the Louvre in Paris. However, due to the high costs, this has not been realized.